Green Bay Packers might have lost center Elgton Jenkins for the remainder of the season.
The team placed the experienced lineman on injured reserve following a severe left ankle injury incurred during the Packers’ 10-7 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles on November 10. The injury occurred as quarterback Jordan Love was tackled while attempting to scramble up the middle late in the first half, causing him to land on the back of Jenkins’ left ankle.
Jenkins struggled to put weight on his left foot and made his way cautiously to the sideline.
As ESPN initially reported, Jenkins sustained a fractured fibula. The more significant concern could be in the ligaments of his ankle. In certain cases, pressure on the ankle can lead to a higher fibula fracture near the calf, but it is the ankle injury that will likely keep him out for an extended period.
Packers confirmed that Jenkins injured his ankle but did not indicate that a fracture had occurred.
Discover the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games, and more!
Following the game, coach Matt LaFleur remarked that the injury “doesn’t sound promising.” He did not hold a press conference the day after the match, stating only that Jenkins had been placed on injured reserve and that linebacker Kristian Welch had been signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
The absence of Jenkins will be felt. He transitioned to center during the offseason after general manager Brian Gutekunst brought in guard Aaron Banks through free agency and had participated in every play until the injury.
Although Jenkins had a challenging start in his switch to center, he had reaffirmed his status as one of the team’s top linemen. Injuries and performance issues among the guards on either side had been problematic throughout the season, but Jenkins had managed to keep things stable, allowing 1½ sacks and two hits on the quarterback.
The Packers have struggled with their running game, and while Jenkins shared some of the blame, his missed blocks in the run game were significantly less than those of guards Sean Rhyan and Jordan Morgan and only slightly below tackles Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom.
The Packers lack a genuine center to replace Jenkins. Rhyan, who was alternating with Morgan at right guard, filled in for Jenkins during the Eagles game and may assume the center role moving forward. However, Rhyan received limited experience at center in training camp and lacks the same level of experience Jenkins had in making line calls.
Another possibility is second-year player Jacob Monk, but he missed a significant part of the season on injured reserve due to a hamstring and has been utilized more at guard than center. The Packers have shown no intentions of shifting right tackle Zach Tom to center, despite the potential to move Morgan to tackle, where he has more experience.
Tom was regarded as a leading center prospect when coming out of college, but the Packers discovered that he excelled as a pass protector on the edge and rewarded him with a lucrative extension to play right tackle.
Jenkins is required to miss at least four games. The Packers may designate him for return if the injury heals properly. It remains uncertain whether he will require surgery to address the probable ligament damage in his ankle.
